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A Place Like This
I want to leave townI want to leave townI want to leave.Jack and Annabel have decided to put off university and drive around the country. It all seems wildly romantic, but when their car dies two days into the trip, they end up at George's apple orchard, figuring it's just a temporary place to stay and earn some money.And at first it is. They fill bins with tart, crunchy apples all day, and drink cold beers while snuggling in the hayloft at night. But then Jack recognizes something in George's family that his own family suffered from. So Jack and Annabel decide to stay for a while. They're not sure how to help, but the know they want to try...
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 20, 2017
Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair and A Place Like This are a lovely exploration of family, free spirit and the love that unites us. Jack is a quiet and thoughtful young man, still grieving the loss of his mother while struggling to find his place in the world. Throughout the poetic narrative, the reader experiences aspects of the lives of others as glimpses of Australia through our communities. While I felt disconnected to Jack initially, I adored A Place Like This and the varying aspects and stages of our lives. The freedom of being young with no obligations, to a teenage mother struggling with the identity of her unborn child's father.
I found George and Emma's narratives honest and enchanting. Emma is only sixteen years old with the weight of motherhood baring down on her slight shoulders, the pregnancy a result of an assault at a party she has no recollection of. Surprisingly, her father George wants to support his young daughter while providing for her siblings, his wife and the mother of his children walking out of their lives years prior.
Steven Herrick is a masterful storyteller, sharing snippets of our Australian communities through verse.
I found George and Emma's narratives honest and enchanting. Emma is only sixteen years old with the weight of motherhood baring down on her slight shoulders, the pregnancy a result of an assault at a party she has no recollection of. Surprisingly, her father George wants to support his young daughter while providing for her siblings, his wife and the mother of his children walking out of their lives years prior.
Steven Herrick is a masterful storyteller, sharing snippets of our Australian communities through verse.
February 26, 2017
Steven Herrick is a dead-set legend. Seriously; if writing awesome books for adolescents was grounds for canonisation, he’d be a living Saint.
Okay, so that is a bit of a stretch; but Herrick is all about the stuff that We English teachers dream about. Appealing characters and themes that resonate with teens; check. Language that oozes with all the delectability of the purest honey; check. Settings that are uniquely, and refreshingly, Australian; yes please. Add to this that the man does it in verse (although his prose is particularly splendid also). Excuse me while I swoon; I may be in urgent need of a Bex and a lie down.
I came to the magic that is Steven Herrick somewhat recently; jumping on board in 2011 with the release of his novel Black Painted Fingernails. Having now officially surrendered to his spell, I welcomed the chance to read a reissue of a couple of his older books. Love, Ghosts and Nose Hair and its sequel A Place Like This, were originally released in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Examining the story of Jack and Annabel, both stories, told completely in verse, remain as fresh as if they were only written last week.
As with many of Herrick’s stories, both novels explore the experiences of youth set against the unique backdrop of Australia (be it in suburbia or in the bush). While primarily ‘coming of age’ tales, both travel the somewhat clumsy, often giddy, joy that is first love. Herrick’s world is one where the ride through adolescence collides head-on with reality. His characters are insecure, frequently searching and battle with a world that has often dealt them a hand that is unfair. For Jack, this reality is one where he must reconcile his own ghosts and the grief associated with losing his mother to cancer. It is a place where Annabel must define her own future, even though doing so may cause conflict with the future her parents (and Jack) have envisioned for her. Finally, there is Emma; sixteen and pregnant, she must come to terms with her life, that of her unborn child and the unfairness of a single night that changed everything. You see, while humour is a tool that Herrick employs with great finesse; beneath this is a gritty world that is unfair and filled with characters whose hearts ache with pain certain to resonate with its audience.
Both Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair and A Place Like This, are beautifully crafted using the sparse descriptive language now synonymous with Herrick. The stories will have broad appeal with older adolescents and will sit well in the English curriculum from year 10 upwards. As with most of Herrick’s verse novels, these stories are as accessible as they are engaging. While suitable for use with accelerated English students, they will be deeply appreciated by less reluctant readers in the senior years.
Okay, so that is a bit of a stretch; but Herrick is all about the stuff that We English teachers dream about. Appealing characters and themes that resonate with teens; check. Language that oozes with all the delectability of the purest honey; check. Settings that are uniquely, and refreshingly, Australian; yes please. Add to this that the man does it in verse (although his prose is particularly splendid also). Excuse me while I swoon; I may be in urgent need of a Bex and a lie down.
I came to the magic that is Steven Herrick somewhat recently; jumping on board in 2011 with the release of his novel Black Painted Fingernails. Having now officially surrendered to his spell, I welcomed the chance to read a reissue of a couple of his older books. Love, Ghosts and Nose Hair and its sequel A Place Like This, were originally released in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Examining the story of Jack and Annabel, both stories, told completely in verse, remain as fresh as if they were only written last week.
As with many of Herrick’s stories, both novels explore the experiences of youth set against the unique backdrop of Australia (be it in suburbia or in the bush). While primarily ‘coming of age’ tales, both travel the somewhat clumsy, often giddy, joy that is first love. Herrick’s world is one where the ride through adolescence collides head-on with reality. His characters are insecure, frequently searching and battle with a world that has often dealt them a hand that is unfair. For Jack, this reality is one where he must reconcile his own ghosts and the grief associated with losing his mother to cancer. It is a place where Annabel must define her own future, even though doing so may cause conflict with the future her parents (and Jack) have envisioned for her. Finally, there is Emma; sixteen and pregnant, she must come to terms with her life, that of her unborn child and the unfairness of a single night that changed everything. You see, while humour is a tool that Herrick employs with great finesse; beneath this is a gritty world that is unfair and filled with characters whose hearts ache with pain certain to resonate with its audience.
Both Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair and A Place Like This, are beautifully crafted using the sparse descriptive language now synonymous with Herrick. The stories will have broad appeal with older adolescents and will sit well in the English curriculum from year 10 upwards. As with most of Herrick’s verse novels, these stories are as accessible as they are engaging. While suitable for use with accelerated English students, they will be deeply appreciated by less reluctant readers in the senior years.
May 10, 2020
It was short. Very short. Not necessarily a bad thing and it was a breath of fresh air in a way.
I’m confused about the aim of this book though. If it was to give a perspective of a teenager as they make decisions. And show their decisions aren’t stupid. I think he did a great job. Seeing Annabel and Jack make the decision to travel together. From the outside it seems ludicrous but as we saw their perspective I realise it wasn’t. They needed it. And they came out as better people.
Meeting Emma was interesting. People have all these preempted ideas about teenage mums but we saw Emma was just a teenager who made a mistake- a common occurrence!
The book seemed to be almost a narration of events. Not necessarily a novel. There was little detail and we never got to truly understand any characters. And there wasn’t really much plot which led to any character development . The story was interesting enough. Characters likeable enough. Plot was very well paced. I wasn’t bored at any point and read it in one sitting.
I don’t understand the blurb though. It says Jack understands their struggle and sees it in his own family. That’s didn’t come across strong from my read. I found them just wanting and needing a job and striking a friendship with Emma. They’re nice people but I didn’t see them especially helping a lot nor spending that much time with any of the family.
I found it very readable and would recommend to all A’s a quick read. But I don’t think it has changed my life in a great way as previous books have done.
I’m confused about the aim of this book though. If it was to give a perspective of a teenager as they make decisions. And show their decisions aren’t stupid. I think he did a great job. Seeing Annabel and Jack make the decision to travel together. From the outside it seems ludicrous but as we saw their perspective I realise it wasn’t. They needed it. And they came out as better people.
Meeting Emma was interesting. People have all these preempted ideas about teenage mums but we saw Emma was just a teenager who made a mistake- a common occurrence!
The book seemed to be almost a narration of events. Not necessarily a novel. There was little detail and we never got to truly understand any characters. And there wasn’t really much plot which led to any character development . The story was interesting enough. Characters likeable enough. Plot was very well paced. I wasn’t bored at any point and read it in one sitting.
I don’t understand the blurb though. It says Jack understands their struggle and sees it in his own family. That’s didn’t come across strong from my read. I found them just wanting and needing a job and striking a friendship with Emma. They’re nice people but I didn’t see them especially helping a lot nor spending that much time with any of the family.
I found it very readable and would recommend to all A’s a quick read. But I don’t think it has changed my life in a great way as previous books have done.
March 14, 2024
Teachable-book-a-week #8
So I came across this looking for verse novels. Apparently, verse novels for adults are a thing in Australia. This didn't disappoint at all and since the protagonists are uni students I think this could still count as a teachable book in (vocational) college.
Two students take a break from their studies and start driving. Stranded with an empty gas tank, they end up picking apples on a remote farm for the summer. This verse novel beautifully paints the rigours and beauties of rural life and the decisions we face in life.
So I came across this looking for verse novels. Apparently, verse novels for adults are a thing in Australia. This didn't disappoint at all and since the protagonists are uni students I think this could still count as a teachable book in (vocational) college.
Two students take a break from their studies and start driving. Stranded with an empty gas tank, they end up picking apples on a remote farm for the summer. This verse novel beautifully paints the rigours and beauties of rural life and the decisions we face in life.
July 29, 2009
I liked this even better than the original, Love Ghosts and Facial Hair. Even though this is a relatively short novel in verse it tells a strong -- several, actually -- in a very thoughtful way. Jack and Annabel are two characters that you first meet in the original book and now they are two years older and opt to take a trip together instead of going straight to college after high school. Their car breaks down and they end up taking a job picking apples in the country. It's there that they meet four new characters -- Dad (the farmer), Emma (a 16-year-old pregnant girl), Beck (a quiet 11-year-old girl), and Craig (a chatty 10-year-old boy). Their mother left them a short while ago and they haven't really dealt with that yet. The characters are all incredibly well developed considering this story is told through a series of relatively short poems. The writing definitely makes you feel empathy towards each of them but especially Emma, jack, and Annabel.
I think it might be hard to understand this book if you haven't read Love Ghosts and Facial Hair so I recommend giving that a whirl first and then if you're up for more read this. It's better, partly because you know Jack and Annabel already, but I think I would have felt lost if I hadn't read the first book.
I think it might be hard to understand this book if you haven't read Love Ghosts and Facial Hair so I recommend giving that a whirl first and then if you're up for more read this. It's better, partly because you know Jack and Annabel already, but I think I would have felt lost if I hadn't read the first book.
March 1, 2017
This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Thank you to University of Queensland Press for providing a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Place Like This is a continuation of Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair but can be read as a standalone. It takes place two years after Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair and follows Jack and Annabel, as well as a cast of new characters. The book is also written in verse and contains multiple perspectives, and I enjoyed it even more than I did Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair.
In this book, Jack and Annabel have finished high school and are going on a year-long adventure together with a car and a limited amount of money. However, not long after they leave, they run out of petrol and are forced to work on an apple farm for George, who lives alone with his three kids. Jack and Annabel work and live on the farm and get to know the kids, including Emma who is pregnant. Just like in Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair, I loved the family themes running through this book. It was explored in a much different way to the previous book but was just as impactful. I also enjoyed the coming-of-age aspects of the book and loved seeing the characters come to terms with what they needed in life.
Even though the book follows Jack and Annabel’s journey, for me, the book was all about Emma. I absolutely loved her story and connected with her the most in this book. I found it to be emotional and I loved the way that she made peace with what happened to her and what it means for her future. It was really nice to be able to see her character develop and grow as the story progressed and I loved the impact that the other characters had on her. As always, I really enjoyed Jack’s character. He wasn’t the same 16 year old boy as he was in Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair but he was just as likable. It was great to be able to see a more mature side to him.
I loved A Place Like This because of the themes of the book and how they were explored. The characterisation was fantastic and I connected with each and everyone one of the characters. It’s a superb story that I would recommend to anyone looking for something short and quick to read.
Thank you to University of Queensland Press for providing a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Place Like This is a continuation of Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair but can be read as a standalone. It takes place two years after Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair and follows Jack and Annabel, as well as a cast of new characters. The book is also written in verse and contains multiple perspectives, and I enjoyed it even more than I did Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair.
In this book, Jack and Annabel have finished high school and are going on a year-long adventure together with a car and a limited amount of money. However, not long after they leave, they run out of petrol and are forced to work on an apple farm for George, who lives alone with his three kids. Jack and Annabel work and live on the farm and get to know the kids, including Emma who is pregnant. Just like in Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair, I loved the family themes running through this book. It was explored in a much different way to the previous book but was just as impactful. I also enjoyed the coming-of-age aspects of the book and loved seeing the characters come to terms with what they needed in life.
Even though the book follows Jack and Annabel’s journey, for me, the book was all about Emma. I absolutely loved her story and connected with her the most in this book. I found it to be emotional and I loved the way that she made peace with what happened to her and what it means for her future. It was really nice to be able to see her character develop and grow as the story progressed and I loved the impact that the other characters had on her. As always, I really enjoyed Jack’s character. He wasn’t the same 16 year old boy as he was in Love, Ghosts & Nose Hair but he was just as likable. It was great to be able to see a more mature side to him.
I loved A Place Like This because of the themes of the book and how they were explored. The characterisation was fantastic and I connected with each and everyone one of the characters. It’s a superb story that I would recommend to anyone looking for something short and quick to read.
July 3, 2012
I love discovering new authors! Well, "new" as in I'm discovering them for the first time. Anyway, Steven Herrick has been a completely surprising, totally accidental find. His poetry is raw, unflinching, and gives unfiltered snapshots of certain eras and times in the lives of teenagers.
In this case, Jack and Annabel (this is a companion novel to "Love, Ghosts, and Facial Hair", a book that is 4 zillion times better than its unfortunate title would suggest)decide to go all bohemian and dump University, get an old, junky car, and just take off out of their hometown.
The book recounts the rest of their summer when the car breaks down and they end up working at a family apple orchard and sleeping in a barn. And they love every minute of it. Other than the back-breaking 10 hour work days, I was completely jealous of them.
Herrick's poems manage to explode your senses without feeling like "Hey look at me- I'm a poet and can get all sensory on you!" and make this time and place vivid with sunshine, apples, heat, cool water, lazy lounging. And I haven't even gotten into the issues of the family that Jack and Annabel intersect with.
A quick blast of exploring the world and feeling compassion for strangers. Really good stuff!
In this case, Jack and Annabel (this is a companion novel to "Love, Ghosts, and Facial Hair", a book that is 4 zillion times better than its unfortunate title would suggest)decide to go all bohemian and dump University, get an old, junky car, and just take off out of their hometown.
The book recounts the rest of their summer when the car breaks down and they end up working at a family apple orchard and sleeping in a barn. And they love every minute of it. Other than the back-breaking 10 hour work days, I was completely jealous of them.
Herrick's poems manage to explode your senses without feeling like "Hey look at me- I'm a poet and can get all sensory on you!" and make this time and place vivid with sunshine, apples, heat, cool water, lazy lounging. And I haven't even gotten into the issues of the family that Jack and Annabel intersect with.
A quick blast of exploring the world and feeling compassion for strangers. Really good stuff!
June 20, 2019
I received a free copy through Goodreads giveaways.
The sentiment of this book was lovely, and I'm sure is relatable to many readers. However, I found multiple sticking points that I couldn't get my head around. The first is that there is essentially no plot. The second is that the voices of the poems are not distinct. All of the characters sound the same. The third is that the only good thing about the verse format was that the book was short. It most places it was repetitive and simple. My final point may not be agreed to by other readers, but I felt that the representation of the female characters was unrealistic. Both Annabel and Emma are too similar and don't really think how teenage girls do. The most compelling part of the narrative was Emma's story and I think she should have been the focus of the book.
The sentiment of this book was lovely, and I'm sure is relatable to many readers. However, I found multiple sticking points that I couldn't get my head around. The first is that there is essentially no plot. The second is that the voices of the poems are not distinct. All of the characters sound the same. The third is that the only good thing about the verse format was that the book was short. It most places it was repetitive and simple. My final point may not be agreed to by other readers, but I felt that the representation of the female characters was unrealistic. Both Annabel and Emma are too similar and don't really think how teenage girls do. The most compelling part of the narrative was Emma's story and I think she should have been the focus of the book.
January 15, 2020
This is a beauty. I really like Herrick's easy hand. It reads as an easy hand... I'm sure it's not so easy to write. I also love that he can create so much tension without any action at all. Clever.
A hugely enjoyable, quick read.
A minor detail: This edition (1998) has some pretty bad design. Distracting typography and cheap looking photos that break the mood. But the writing rose above it. :-) I'd recommend a different edition to anyone buying a copy though.
A hugely enjoyable, quick read.
A minor detail: This edition (1998) has some pretty bad design. Distracting typography and cheap looking photos that break the mood. But the writing rose above it. :-) I'd recommend a different edition to anyone buying a copy though.
February 21, 2020
I loved this. There is a gentle pace and a leisurely feel throughout this very quick read. A touching story about life choices, family and supporting one another.
April 9, 2024
The search for identity. Young couple Annabel and Jack pack up and hit the road to enjoy life before having to settle down into the mundane routine of work and no play.
They drive a car to anywhere they would like, do some casual work and move on. Enjoying lazy picnics by the beach and each other's company.
One place they worked at with fond memories was an Apple Orchard and made friends with the family. It was here they found perspective.
Another great book written by Steven Herrick.
They drive a car to anywhere they would like, do some casual work and move on. Enjoying lazy picnics by the beach and each other's company.
One place they worked at with fond memories was an Apple Orchard and made friends with the family. It was here they found perspective.
Another great book written by Steven Herrick.
July 12, 2021
Very quick read, it is interesting in the way the story is told (in a poem sort of style)
February 21, 2023
1.5 stars
A boring but I guess sweet little book, a bit like an apple, simple and crisp, but not in a good way.
A boring but I guess sweet little book, a bit like an apple, simple and crisp, but not in a good way.
March 14, 2023
I wouldn't have borrowed this if I realised it was poetry and I would have missed out. A lovely, hopeful and realistic story of a time and place in Australia's life. Very well written.
September 2, 2023
This would make a great indie movie.
May 5, 2017
I won this book as a giveaway and just read it over the weekend. It's a great read. Definately recommended. Thanks Steven!
January 7, 2009
I like this book a lot, pretty much because of the format it was written in, which was a poem format. But also, I think the story is very well written. This main characters of this book are Jack and Annabel, they decided to put off college and travel out on their own. After asking for his father's advice, they set out. Now that they are in the country, they worked at George's apple orchard. They stayed there temporarily and to earn some money. They enjoyed their freedom and their wildly romantic life together. After many experiences that helped Jack to growth, he changed a lot. And towards the end of the story, Jack is able to understand his past, that his mother died from cancer, and is really to go on with his life and be stronger.
June 3, 2008
The follow-up to 'Love, ghosts and facial hair' (original title '... and nose hair'). What starts out as a roadtrip for the two star-crossed lovers soon becomes another person's story. 16 and pregnant (raped while she was passed out at a party), this young woman needs to make some life decisions... and the two roadsters offer some good advice. I didn't enjoy this story as much as the first... it didn't really seem to go anywhere...
May 17, 2013
I picked this up really liking the idea of the book. It's told really simply and it's quite fascinating how it's told from so many different people. A really quick simple read, it's not bad! :)
October 10, 2014
The sequel to Love, Ghosts & Nose Hairs. It was a great, realistic read of the events that can occue after graduating high school and certain paths people choose to take.
March 6, 2018
such a great writer of characters. Herrick's verse novels are able to explore complex themes in an engaging and honest way.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews